How Do I Apply?

Learn about the Process of Becoming a Habitat Homeowner
Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity builds homes in partnership with qualifying partner families and the community, and then sells the homes at with zero percent interest mortgages to partnering families without profit to our organization. Central Minnesota Habitat also prepares partner families to be successful homeowners through various homeownership programs. The following steps describe the process of becoming a Habitat Homeowner:

Step 1: Do you meet the following requirements for Habitat homeownership?

·             Must have lived in the central Minnesota four-county service area for at least one year.

·             Must meet Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity's income guidelines and credit standards.

·             Must acknowledge and accept the responsibilities of homeownership.

·             Must attend all sessions of Central Minnesota Habitat homeowner training.

·             Must contribute 200 hours per adult (max 500 per household) toward construction of Habitat homes.

Step 2: Attend a Habitat Homeownership Program Orientation
Interested Central Minnesota area residents (four-county service area) must attend a Homeownership Program Orientation. Participants learn more about homeownership basics and the Central Minnesota Habitat's process. People wishing to be considered must complete the pre-screening questionnaire (available online).

Step 3: Application Process
If a family is invited to apply after determining initial eligibility, the application process typically takes 3 to 4 months. The process has several steps, including completion of the program application and other requested materials, a meeting with Habitat staff to review the application and materials for completeness, and an in home interview with the applicant family.

Step 4: Matching Process
Once the above steps are complete and an applicant family is determined to be eligible, the application remains active for one year. Within that year, eligible applicants may or may not be selected to purchase a Habitat home. Applicants are matched to homes based on the size and location of the available Habitat homes compared to the needs of the pool of eligible applicants (i.e. size of family and desired location). 

Step 5: Homebuyer Education
Once matched to a home, all prospective Habitat homeowners are required to complete 8 homeowner training sessions prior to home closing. Topics include money management and budgeting, mortgages and financial fitness, home maintenance and safety, and community involvement and engagement.

This training program provides families with a sound foundation of knowledge designed to boost homeownership success. Once a family moves into their homes, a Neighborhood Family Partner advocate meets regularly with the new Habitat homeowner to provide a warm welcome to the community, a resource for house maintenance questions, and a link to the local community.

Pre Screen Intake Form